Engaged Employees Overcome Obstacles

Cathie Leimbach • April 29, 2020

It is an everyday occurrence in the workplace – something doesn’t go exactly as intended.

We regularly face obstacles and challenges that we must overcome to fulfill our responsibilities. Some people take such problems in their stride. They maintain a positive attitude as they try alternative ways to get the job done. Such individuals are competent at X-ing Out the Negatives.

Three strategies that can help us have a positive outlook are:

  1. Accepting Problems – enjoy the learning that happens from mistakes and the discoveries you make along the way
  2. Believing the Best – be confident that you and the people around you can find solutions to the challenges you face
  3. Casting Off the Negatives – don’t dwell on your fears, focus on the upside possibilities

When we have an attitude of focusing on the positives and putting negative thinking and feelings behind us, we will enjoy our work more. We will have a sense of accomplishment at the end of each day. We will look forward to opportunities for creative problem solving. These positive emotions about our work increase our willingness to go the extra mile. We become invested in the organization’s mission and goals. We become engaged employees.

And because we are emotionally engaged at work, having a positive outlook becomes a habit.

What can you do to X-out the negatives in your work and increase your workplace engagement?

What Problems Disappear When Leadership Gets Stronger?

By Cathie Leimbach • April 14, 2026
Most workplace issues don’t start big. They build slowly—through missed conversations, unclear expectations, and more people leave. That’s where disengagement shows up. And when it does, the cost is real: 78% higher absenteeism 51% higher turnover 63% more safety incidents These differences come from comparing the 25% of organizations with the strongest employee engagement to those in the bottom 25% (Gallup). And across the U.S., the bigger picture is hard to ignore— disengaged employees cost organizations nearly $2 trillion annually in lost productivity (Gallup). These aren’t just HR problems. They’re leadership problems. When people don’t feel connected, clear, or supported: They call off more More people quit Mistakes and risks increase The good news? These patterns are preventable. Strong leaders reduce these issues by: Addressing problems early Creating clarity instead of assumptions Having consistent, direct conversations Reinforcing expectations before things drift It’s not about doing more. It’s about leading differently—every day. A question to consider: Which of these challenges is quietly costing your organization the most right now? 👉 Join our upcoming Leadership Conversation on April 27th, 3:00 PM—this is not a webinar . This is a candid conversation with leaders comparing their employee engagement challenges and successes. Most organizations are tolerating more of this than they realize. The question is—are you?

What Changes When People Actually Feel Engaged?

By Cathie Leimbach • April 7, 2026
Most leaders don’t struggle because they don’t care. They struggle because engagement feels hard to influence. But when people are engaged, the impact is hard to ignore: 18% higher sales 23% higher profitability 70% higher wellbeing These differences come from comparing the 25% of organizations with the strongest employee engagement to those in the bottom 25% (Gallup). And the stakes are bigger than most realize— disengaged employees cost U.S. organizations nearly $2 trillion in lost productivity each year (Gallup). This isn’t about perks or programs. It’s about how people are led every day. Engaged teams are clearer on expectations. They feel supported. They know their work matters. And most importantly—those conditions don’t happen by accident. They’re created in conversations: Clarifying priorities Reinforcing what good looks like Checking for understanding Following through consistently Small leadership habits drive big business outcomes. A question to consider: Where could stronger day-to-day leadership conversations improve results in your team? 👉 Join our next 60-minute Leadership Conversation: Inspiring High Performance — Monday, April 27 th at 3:00 PM ET (this is not a webinar) It’s a small-group discussion with other leaders looking at a simple question: What’s actually driving engagement—and what’s quietly holding it back?  If a shift in leadership could impact sales, profitability, and wellbeing… it’s worth exploring what that might look like in your world.